Zittende jongen met vishengel 1645

Cornelis Saftleven created this etching of a 'Seated Boy with Fishing Rod' in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-17th century. Saftleven was known for his genre scenes and landscapes, but this intimate portrait gives us a window onto the social dynamics of the Dutch Golden Age. The boy is Black, and though his clothing suggests that he is not enslaved, the fact that he is depicted in this way at all raises questions about the complexities of race and class in Dutch society at the time. The art market, which had grown in prominence by the 17th century, provided a space for such images to be circulated and consumed. To fully understand the nuances of this work, we need to consult historical sources, such as archival records and contemporary accounts, that shed light on the lives of Black people in the Netherlands during this period. Only then can we begin to unravel the social and institutional forces that shaped Saftleven's artistic vision and the reception of his work.